By Colin Harris
Record Courier staff writer
MANTUA "The Streetsboro Rockets were outgained on the ground and through the air by the Crestwood Red Devils on Friday night.
In the end, though, all that stood between them and victory was one gritty defensive stand.
After leading his team down the field with under three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Red Devils quarterback Nick Prochnow finished a perfect 5-for-5 drive with a 35-yard bomb to Chris Graves in the back of the end zone to cut Streetsboro's lead to 21-20.
Having seen Crestwood send its offense back out for a 2-point attempt, Rockets coach John Arelesic told his defense to "just make a play."
In standing up the Red Devils at the 1-yard line, the Rockets did just that - both saving Streetsboro's 21-20 lead, and in the process securing a big win for the program.
"Our players had to hear all season long, and especially leading up to tonight, that they were just a basketball team," Arlesic said. "The way they played tonight, they showed they were tough, and I couldn't be any prouder of them."
Talon Stephens of Crestwood gave his team great field position to begin the night, taking the opening kick 60 yards down to the Streetsboro 28. Seven plays later, the senior back finished what he started with a seven-yard touchdown scamper to give Crestwood a 7-0 lead.
Streetsboro wasted little time tying the game as its senior sprinter Cory Lanterman took the resulting kick 85 yards down the right sideline to pay dirt and an evened score with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter.
A second quarter eight-play, 59-yard drive culminated in another chance for Stephens to give Crestwood the lead. After getting inside enemy territory on a 27-yard pass Eric Head reception, the senior back busted through the Rockets' line four plays later for a 6-yard touchdown.
Stephens was the bell cow of the Red Devils' attack, rushing for 90 yards on 14 carries. The senior running back accounted for 219 all-purpose yards and two scores on the evening.
Trailing 14-7 at the half, Rockets' senior quarterback Carrington Hanna came out of the locker room a different player. After being held to minus-nine yards rushing in the first half, Hanna accounted for 48 critical rushing yards in the third quarter as he helped Streetsboro to two scores.
"We didn't change anything at halftime, to be honest," Arlesic said. "Our kids just came out and played like they were capable of, which is why they were so successful."
Hanna led the Rockets into scoring position on the opening drive with two big rushes for 47 yards. After a Lanterman grab and a Dan Spindler run got the ball inside the 10-yard line, Hanna connected with senior receiver Robert Wilson in the back of the end zone to tie the score at 14.
The Rockets tacked on another score minutes later " this time converting a Red Devils fumble into a one-yard scamper by Hanna to take a 21-14 lead.
Crestwood put together a strong drive to begin the fourth, taking the ball 56 yards on 12 plays down to the Streetsboro 9.
A Stephens fumble on the next handoff - Crestwood's fourth turnover of the contest - represented another failed shot at the Rockets' lead.
Following the game, Crestwood coach Tom Hannan talked about his decision to go for the win, rather than a game-tying extra point with minutes left.
"Well, we have had some kicking trouble in the early part of the season, so we thought it would be a good idea to go for two points," Hannan said. "We thought we saw something in their defense, and they ended up stopping us. I take full responsibility for the play because the coaches all agreed on that call."